MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian authorities say 18 people have died and another 17 are still missing in devastating floods that swept southeastern Siberia.

The head of the Emergency Ministry's regional branch, Valentin Nelyubov, said Tuesday that 18 people have died and that the search for the missing 17 people is ongoing.

The floods that followed torrential rains affected 55 towns and villages in the Irkutsk region.

Over 4,000 houses have been flooded, according to the Emergency Ministry. Officials said that 1,258 people have sought medical assistance and 191 of them have been hospitalized.

President Vladimir Putin visited the area on Sunday on his way home from the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Japan and ordered the military to join the rescue efforts.